Flexible pipe-joint.



No. 871,757. I PATBNTED NOV. 19, 1907. A. L. GREENLAW. FLEXIBLE PIPE JQINT.

APPLICATION FILED APE-16, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

A. L. GREENLAW. FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. GREENLAW, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WESLEY W. BLAIR, OF NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

.FLEXIBLE PIPE-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Applioationfiled April 16.1908- Serial No. 8111854.

ments in Flexible Pipe Joints, of which the.

following is a specification.

The use of a fiexiblehose to make .the connections between the train'pipes of two cars or between a ear and the locomotive has been fpund to be objectionable and in many cases metal pipes have been substituted therefor. here thelatterare used, .however, it is obvious that it is advantageous to secure the greatest flexibility of said ipe to provide for vibrations of the cars in all 'r'ections. Q

To accomplish this object and provide a pipe connection of great flexibility which 'ma readily be disconnected at a single point is t e object of the present invention which consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings andto the claims to be hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan partly in section of a double joint used in making the connection. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the same. Fi 4 represents an end view of one of the tubu ar con- Sat nectors. Fig. 5 represents an end view of the ball-shaped ends. Fig. 6 represents a Fig. '7 re rethe connection. Fig. 8 represents an elevation of the same. cal section on line 9'9 on Fig. '7. Fig. 10

represents aihorizon'tal section on line 10--10 on Fig.9, and Fig -11 represents a'diagram showin the flexib e connection made by said joints etween the horizontal pipes ofrtwo ad'acent cars.

imilarcharacters designate like arts throughout the several figures of the raw-- the drawings,-10 and 11 represent the train ipesof'two adjacent cars which it is desire to connect iii-series either for the pur-v pose ofpassing airthrough the same to the air brake or steam for the 1purpose of heating.

The connection between t e two pipes is usually made by ,a-separable coupling 12 of any Fig. 9 represents a verti-.

age ofan it is obvious that tions relative to each other and in order toaccomplish this each system of piping 1314 is provided with'a double joint 15 and a single joint 16. The joint 16 consists of a head 17 provided with a neck 18 having a suitable thread 19 by which it may be connected to a train pipe 10 or- 11 in any well known manner.

A passage 20 extends through the neck- 18 and through the annular boss 21 rojecting into the chamber 22 formed in t e interior of the head 17. The boss 21 is made flaring as indicated at 23 and its extreme inner face isconcaved as at 24 to form a seat for the outer face of the ball-shaped end 25 of a pipe member 26, the opposite end of which 'is threaded as at 27 to provide a means for connecting said pipe member to the pipe member 28 of the double joint 15. The head 17 has threaded thereto a cap 29 provided with a concaved seat 30 for said all-shaped end 25, the opening through said cap being such as to permit a movement of said pi e member 26 about the axis of said ball en 25 into an inclined position as shown at 31 in F 9. i

Within t he chamber 22 is mounted'a gasket 32 surrounding said ball end and bearing a ainst'said aske-t 32 is a metal washer 33 w ch is hel in position againstsaid gasket by means of the spring 34 surrounding said annular boss 21. A passage 35 extends through the pipe member 26 and communicates with the passage 20 through the neck of the head 17,. The gasket 32 surrounding the ball-shaped end 25' of the pipe member 26 forms a'tight joint preventing the'leakair or steam which may escape into the c amber 22. The seats 24 -30 are ground to fit the curvature of saidball end 25 and prevent the assa e of steam or air between thesame. y a usting the cap 29 any wear of joints may be cared for.

The pipe member 28 is provided with a ing or ball-shaped end 36 which extends into a tubular casing 37 the opposite end of which is provided with another ball-shaped or flaring end 39 formed on the inner end of a t the exterior surface of said ball or flaring end 36 or 39. The cap 41 is provided with a plurality of ribs 43 by which said cap may be adjusted in any desired position to take up the wear and is secured in adjusted position by means of the set screw 44. The openings through the caps 41 are such as to permit the movement ofthe pipe members 28 and 40 into the angular positions such as shown in Fig. 2.

Interposed between the inner-faces of the ball-shaped ends 36 is a tubular connector formed in tWo parts 45 and 46 the outer ends of which are provided with flaring bellshaped ends having ground faces 47 adapted to engage and form a tight joint with the inner face of the ball-shaped ends 3639. The adjacent ends of the tubular members 45-46 are telescopically connected as shown at 48 so that they may be moved from each other to adjust the length ofsaid connector in order to force the faces 47- firmly to a seat on the inner face of said ball-shaped ends. These flaring ends 47 are forced to their seats by means of a spring 49 surrounding said tubular members and bearing against the annular flanges 50 formed on each of said tubular members 4546.

The outer ends of the caps 41 are provided with pockets in which is mounted a washer 51 of felt or similar material to prevent the dust from getting into the joints.

A passage 52 extends through the pipe member 28 and its ball-shaped end 36 and communicates with the passage 53 extending through the tubular connectors 4546 the opposite end of said passage connnunicating with a passage 54 extendingthrough the pipe member 40.

These joints as shown and described provide means for securing great flexibility in metal connections between the train pipe of adjacent cars and are so constructed that the wear may be readily taken up in the joints to prevent leakage while other means are provided which automatically hold the var ous members to their seats and assist in this object.

Any usual connections such as shown at 55 and 56 may be used to connect the pipe members 26 and 28 and the necks 18 and the train pipes 1011 while the pipe members 40 and the coupling members 12 may be united in any well known manner. It is obvious also that if desired the pipe members 26 and 28 may be formed in one piece.

While the improved joints are shown as applied to the train pipes of cars to make connections between the same, it is obvious same? that they are adapted equally as well for many other purposes and the invention is not limited to the particular use shown and described herein. I

It is believed that from the foregoing the operation of the invention will be readily understood.

Claims.

1. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a casing, pipe members each provided with a flaring end extending within said casing and having a concentric seat on its inner face, a cap secured to either end of said casing provided with a seat for one of said flaring ends, an imperforate tubular connector interposed between and extending from one to the other of said flaring ends and terminating at each end in an annular bearing surface seated upon said concentric seat, and

means for forcing each of said flaring ends to its seat.

2. In a flexible pipe joint,- the combination of a casing, pipe members each provided with a ball-shaped end located partially within said casing and having a concentric seat on its inner face, a cap secured to either end of saidcasing provided with a seat for a ball-shaped end, a divided imperforate tubular connector interposed between and extending from one to the other of said ballshaped ends and terminating at each end in an annular bearing surface seated upon said concentric seat, andmeans for forcing the outer ends of said divided connector against the interior face of said ball-shaped ends.

3. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a casing, pipe members each provided with a ballshaped end located partially within said casing and having a concentric seat on its inner face, a cap secured to either end of said casing provided with a seat for a balleshaped end, a telescopic tubular connector interposed between said ball-shaped ends and terminating at each end in an annular bearing surface seated upon said concentric seat, and means for forcing the ends of said telescopic connector against the interior surface of said ends.

4. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a casing, pi e members each provided with av ballshape end located partially within said casing and having a concentric seat on its inner face, a cap secured to either'end of said casing provided with a seat for a ballsha ed end, a telescopic tubular connector each end of which is provided with a flaring mouth and an annular seat fitting the interior face of said ball-sha ed ends, and means for forcing the ends 0 said telescopic connector against the interior surface of said ends.

5. In a flexible pipe oint, the combination of a casing, pi e members each provided with a ball-shape end located partially within said casing and having a concentric seat on said casing provided with a seat for a ballits inner face, a cap secured to either end of .members each provi ed with an annular flaring end fitting the interior of said ball-shaped end an annular radial flange and having the inner end of one member reduced to slidably fit an enlarged portion of the bore of v the other, and a sprin interposed between terior of said ball-sha ed end an other with portions sli ably forming an ex-- said annular flanges an adapted by pressure upon said flanges to move sald tubular members outwardl 7. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a tubular casing, ipe members each pro,- vided with a ball-s aped end located partially within said casin and having a concentric seat on its inner ace, a ca secured to either end of said casing-provide with a seat for a ball-shaped end, twotubular imperforate members each provided at one end with an annular flaring end fittin the ipat' t e tensible tubular connection extending from one .ball end to the other, and means for separating said tubular members to cause .of a tubular casing,

, of a casing, pipe members 'eac with a flaring concave-convex en located the flaring ends to firmly bear upon the in terior face of said ball ends.

' 8. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination lpipe members each pro-' vided with a ball-s aped end located partially within,said casin and havinga concentric seat on its inner ace, a ca seemed to either end of saidcasing provide with a seat for a ball-shaped endtwo tubular imper-Q forate members slidably connected together with their bores coincident and each provided with a flaring end' fitted to the interior of a ball-shaped end, and means for forcin said'members a art to cause each of their flaring ends to y bearnpon the interior face of a ball-shaped end. Y a

, 9. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination rovided partially within said casing "and having a concentric seat on its inner face, apap secured to either end of said casing provided with a seat for the convex face of saio flaringend, a'

'divided'impei'forate tubular connector interposed between said flaring ends and provided at either endwith a convex bearing surface having a seat on the concaved face of said flaring end, and means for forcing said divided connector apart to seat its outer ends on said flaring ends and the latter upon their seats on the adjustable ca s.

10. In a flexible pipe joint, t e combination of a casing, pipe members each rovided with a flaring concave-convex en located concentric seat 'on its inner face, a cap on either end of said casing provided with a seat for the convex face of said flaring end, a tubular co'nnector interposed between said flaring ends rovided at either, end with a flaring mout terminating in a spherical bearing surface adapted to seat upon the concaved face of one of said flaring ends of the pipe members, and means for retaining said connector, flaring ends and cap in contact to prevent leakage along either face of said flaring ends. I

1]. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a casing, pipe members each provided with an end within said casing having outer and inner concentric continuous faces, a cap secured to either end of said casing provided with a-seat foreach of the outer concentric faces, a divided tubular connector interposed between said ends and terminating at either end in an annular spherical surface adapted to seat upon the inner face of said ipe members at various angles, and means ibr forcing said annular seating surfaces to their seats u on said inner concentric faces. 12. In a fliixible pipe joint, the combination of a casing, ipe members each provided with an end wit u said casing having outer and inner concentric continuous faces, a cap secured to each end of said casing provided with a seat for-each of the outer concentric faces, a divided tubular" connector interposed between said ends the walls of which at each end flare outward and terminate in annular semi-spherical faces surroundin; the mouths of the tubular member and adapted to fit and find a seat upon the inner concentric faces of partially within said casing and having a said pipe members, and means for forcing saidannular semi-spherical faces to seats on said inner faces of said pipe members andthe outerfaces of said pipe -members to their seats on the caps to said casing.

- Si ed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 27th day of March, 1906.

v ARTHUR LlGREENLAW'. Witnesses: I

EDNA C. CL VELAND, WALTER E. LOMBARD. 

